Champions struggle to make winning start

Doonbeg 1-13   Lissycasey 3-5

CHAMPIONS Doonbeg got their senior championship campaign off to a winning start at Cooraclare on Saturday but they were given a much stiffer test than predicted.
Indeed, many in the disappointingly small attendance felt Lissycasey should have won the tie. In the final analysis, Doonbeg’s greater experience proved critical in the final quarter, while the accuracy of David Tubridy also proved a vital asset on the day. He finished the tie with a tally of 1-8.
With the bulk of last year’s county-final winning team on duty, Doonbeg were the odds-on favourites against a new-look Lissycasey, who have struggled in Division 2 of the league this season. The Magpies won the toss and elected to play with the aid of a strong breeze and Tubridy opened the scoring when he converted a 45’ in the third minute to register the first score in this year’s title race.
He doubled their advantage when converting a 20m free a minute later and Lissycasey had to wait until the eighth minute for their first score, which came from wing-forward Matt O’Shea. A Derek McMahon point followed and the sides were level for the first of four times.
These scores clearly gave Lissycasey confidence and their running game caused a lot of problems for Doonbeg. Shane O’Brien and Derek McMahon swapped points before Paul Dillon and Brian Egan had Doonbeg points to give the champions a two-point advantage with six minutes remaining in the half.
Lissycasey were playing the better football at this stage and their efforts were rewarded with just under five minutes remaining in the half. The outstanding Martin Moran broke forward from wing-back and his effort caused all sorts of problems for Nigel Dillon, who parried the ball onto the post before the in-rushing Danny Clohessy punched the ball to the net.
Lissycasey struck again three minutes later when Niall Kelly superbly fielded a Matt O’Shea delivery. He gave Nigel Dillon no chance when he cracked a superb effort to the corner of the net. Lissycasey now led by four points as the end of the half approached and with wind assistance to come, a shock looked to be on the cards.
Doonbeg finished the half with a brace of pointed frees from Tubridy in injury time to trail by two at the break when the score stood at 2-3 to 0-7.
There was more urgency in their play on the resumption and Tubridy pointed a free in the second minute to reduce the lead to the minimum. The winners were now doing better at midfield and this ensured a greater supply of ball to their forwards.
Tubridy had his first from play in the eleventh minute to level, before Oisín Talty pointed a free for Lissycasey to put them ahead again. Another Tubridy effort had the sides level for the fourth time at the turn of the final quarter.
Two minutes later, Lissycasey had a great chance to strike a major blow but Nigel Dillon managed to save from Paul Nagle and this proved to be a big turning point. Lissycasey faded after this and Tubridy and Conor Whelan hit Doonbeg points before Tubridy struck for the winners’ goal.
To their credit, Lissycasey battled to the end and a Martin O’Connor point was followed by Niall Kelly’s second goal, which came in the second minute of injury time.
David Tubridy excelled for the winners, while Conor Whelan, Nigel Dillon and Colm Dillon were others to impress. Martin Moran was outstanding for Lissycasey, who also had good performances from Michael Melican, Gerry Moran, Danny Clohessy and Niall Kelly.

Doonbeg: Nigel Dillon; Joe Blake, Padraig Gallagher, Conor Whelan; Padraic Aherne, David Downes, Brian Dillon; Colm Dillon, Enda Doyle; Shane O’Brien, Brian Egan, Frank O’Dea; David Tubridy, Kevin Nugent, Paul Dillon.
Subs: Ritchie Vaughan for Downes (35 minutes), Jim Bob Griffin for Blake (52 minutes), Jamie Whelan for P Dillon (55 minutes) and Conor Downes for O’Brien (56 minutes).
Scorers: David Tubridy (1-8, 5f), Conor Whelan, Shane O’Brien, Brian Egan, Frank O’Dea and Paul Dillon (0-1 each).
Frees for: 25; wides: 7; 45s: 1
Bookings: None.
“Lissycasey showed a lot more composure and leadership than we did.  David Tubridy saved us really. We didn’t panic at half-time, as we knew that Lissycasey still had to come out and win the game. Nigel Dillon’s save halfway through the second half was the biggest turning point in the game.” Kieran O’Mahoney, Doonbeg manager.

Lissycasey: Joe Hayes; Cyril Sheehan, Gerry Moran, Martin O’Connor; Cathal Hill, Michael Melican, Martin Moran; Enda Finnucane, Danny Clohessy; Oisín Talty, Francis Hayes, Matt O’Shea; Paul Nagle, Niall Kelly, Derek McMahon.
Subs: Alan Nagle for Sheehan (35 minutes) and Dermot Nagle for O’Shea (50 minutes).
Scorers: Niall Kelly (2-0), Danny Clohessy (1-0), Derek McMahon (0-2), Oisín Talty (free), Matt O’Shea and Martin O’Connor (0-1 each).
Frees for: 16; wides: 6
Bookings: Michael Melican (12 minutes).
“The decisive time was 10 minutes into the second half when Doonbeg kicked four or five points. We are very proud of the lads. There was belief. We came here to win the game. We had a lot of young lads and they stood up. It’s a good foundation and we will build from here.” Barry Keating, Lissycasey manager.

Referee: Barry Kelly, Miltown.